Hoyer Statement on Republicans' "Letting Students Down Act"

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement after voting in opposition to H.R. 5, the Republican bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):

“We ought to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – but do it in a way that helps more children succeed in school and graduate prepared for college or a career. However, instead of promoting student success, this bill will leave more children behind – and it will leave our economy behind as well by undermining our ability to train and secure a highly skilled and competitive workforce for the twenty-first century.

“This Republican bill removes accountability provisions that ensure a quality education for all our students, and it allows states to establish a separate and unequal track for students with disabilities. It would shift teacher training funds from school districts with more students from low-income families to those districts with fewer students in need. This bill is a classic example of how this Republican Majority has capitulated to its more extreme elements and, as a result, produced legislation that is opposed by virtually every stakeholder group. Their bill is opposed not only by groups like The Education Trust, the National Council of La Raza, and the National Center for Learning Disabilities but also by the Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Foundation. It is yet another symbol of this Majority’s inability to lead.

“I hope Republicans will stop playing politics with the education of our students and with our economic competitiveness and instead work with Democrats to invest in a strong education system that helps all our students succeed and strengthens our economy over the long term.”